Washing machine



Sept. 12, 1939. A, MoLlNAR 2,172,620

WASHING MACHINE IMI' 40 4f 1 uf;

Patented Sept. 12, .1939

UNITED STATES PATENT-OFFICE WASHING MACHINE Anthony *W. Molinare, Oak Park, Illa-assigner to Electric Household Utilities Corporation, Chircago, Ill., a corporation ol.' Illinois Application October 11, 1937, Serial No. 168,383`

' 6 Claims. `(Cl. 68-133) This invention relates to washing machines, such as used in the household, and more particularly, to machines of the type wherein the im-y peller member is mounted substantially centrally 6. in the tub, and in spaced-apart relation to the walls and bottom thereof to permit free circulation of the washing uid and clothes, around and beneath the impeller member. More especially, the present invention is directed to an improved washing machine construction, of the type wherein the impeller member is vertically reciprocated and simultaneously oscillated horizontally within the tub.

I am aware of several prior art constructions 15 of washing machinesrwherein the impeller mem-- ber is reciprocated vertically and simultaneously oscillated in horizontal direction within the tub. To my knowledge, however, such prior art 'constructions have not proved commercially success- 2 ful prlmarilydue tothe fact-that the construction and arrangement of the impeller member is such as to preclude free circulation of the washing fluid andl clothes, around and beneath the impeller 'memberfwhile the same is reciproatedand os- 25. cillated. Anotherdifficulty with such prior art constructions resides in the particular form or construction ofthe impeller member, which, in practically all instances, do, not provide adequate 30 action or motion of the washing fluid and clothes immersed therein, for expeditiously performing an veiilcient cleansing operation upon the clothes. One of the primary objects of this invention is to provide,in a washing machine of the character 361 described, a novel form of impeller member capable of producing an improved action lof the wa "1- ing fluid and clothesimmersed therein, for per forming an expeditious and efficient cleansing.

50 indicated, by virtue of which the washing fluid and clothes immersed therein during-one direction of simultaneous reciprocating and oscillating motion of the impeller member, are imparted a greater amount of circulatory movement than in 55. the other direction of said combined reciproca- ;:Jory and oscillatory motion of the impeller memer. L

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying 5 drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a View, part in elevation, part in section, of a washing machine embodying the'present invention. b Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the impeller mem- 10 Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view throughl the impeller member, taken as indicated on line 3--3 on Fig. 1..

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the impeller 16 member.

' Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the impeller member, taken as indicated at line 5 5 on Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan-view of the impeller member.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the upper portion of the impeller member, sl'rliowing the mode of attachment to theimpeller s ait. f

In the illustrated embodiment ofmy invention, the washing machine comprises an upwardlyopen tub I0, herein shown as of circular form, provided with a depending skirt I I to which is rigidly secured a plurality' of depending legs I2 for supporting the tub in proper spaced apart relation tothe iioor. The lower ends of the legs are rigidly connected and braced by a frame I4, which serves as a reinforcing structure, and in addition provides support Afor suitable drive mechanism for' the impeller member, hereindesignated gen- 35 erally at l5, and which as may be seen in Fig; l', is disposed substantially centrallyof the tub in. spaced apart relation to the bottom' and wall thereof, to permit free circulation of the .washing fluid andclothes, around and beneath said 40 impeller member.

The driving mechanism for vertically reciprocating the impellermember includes an electric motor I6, provided with a driving pulley I1. which throughthemediumof a belt I8; drives a pulley I9. 45

Itistobeunderstood that the pulley I9 is connected in a conventional manner to a worm gear speed reducer mechanism of conventional design, en-

.closed within the housing 20. The worm gea-r (not shown) may be understood to be mounted on a horizontal shaft,v and rigidly connected to the outer portion of said shaft is a crank arm 22, the outer end of which is pivotally connected by a pin 23 to the lower end 0f an upwardly extending .ptman 424. AThe upper end of said pitman is having cooperative engagement with internal splines 34 formed in the lower portion of an upwardly extending tubular standard 35, the lowerv end of which is formed with a foot 31, secured to the frame I4. As will hereinafter appear, the

-splines 33 and 34` impart rotary motion to the .'impeller shaft 28, when the latter is vertically reciprocated by the medium of the drive mechanism, above described. A

The upper lportion of the impeller shaft 25 projects centrally through the bottom of the tub I a substantial distance, and supports the impeller member I5. Surrounding the upper portion of the impeller shaft 29, which protrudes into the tub, is an upstanding tubular standard 40, the lower end of which is provided with a' flange 4I, forming a transverse shoulder, adapted to be seated tightly against the bottom of,the tube surrounding the opening III, with a gasket 42 interposed between said -ilange and the bottom of the tub. Said flange portion 4| includes a depending-externally threaded portion 44 pro.- ;lecting downwardly through the opening III", below the bottom of .the tub, and'has threaded connection with a block 45, the upper end of which forms' a transverse shoulder for tightly seatingagainst the under surface of the bottom of the tub, surrounding the aperture III* with a gasket 46, interposed therebetween. The bottom of-the'block 45 is formedwith depending ears 41, which'are .rigidly connected to a brace or cross ,member 48, the ends of which are rigidly attached to the inner wall of the skirt Il.v It will now be apparent that when the lower end of the tubular standard is tightly threaded into the block 45 with the gasket members 42 and 45. interposed therebetween, a uid-tight seal is"formed' around the opening I0* in thebottom of the tub.-

It is to be understood that the tubular standardl 40 projects upwardly into the interior of the hollow cavity of the impeller member I5 a substantial distance, preferably above the level of the suitable manner, and as hereinshown, by means of a set screw I5.

lThe impeller member, designated at I5, preferably is formedas a hollow casting and includes a main body portion ls of substantially circular amount of splash of the washing fluid while the shaft 25.

outline, disposed transversely of theV impeller The upper portionl of the impeller member is formed with a head of slightly convex contour, which is joined tothe main body portion -55 by a tubular concave wall 51. 'lhe purpose of the head 55, in addition to causing action of the water-by the vertical reciprocatory movement thereof, also tends to reduce the impeller member is in motion.

. The impeller member is provided with a multiplicity of `upwardly extending lvanes 54. herein shown as four innumber, circumferentially aivaeso l spaced apart substantially equal distances. As

may be seen in the drawings, corresponding faces indicated at 5l. of these respective vanes are disposed approximately in radial planes, while the opposite faces, designated at are inclined or sloped in planes at an angle to radial.

It will now be apparent that when the impeller shaft 2l is imparted simultaneous vertically reciprocatory motion and horizontal oscillating motion about its axis, the impeller member, which is rigidly attached to the impeller shaft, will in one direction of rotation and vertical movement act on the washing fluid and clothes to impart lthereto an outward direction of movement, at an angle oblique to radial, causing circulatory movement of the entire body'of uid and clothes immersed therein around the impeller member. This motion of the washing fluid and clothes is modined to a large extent by the vertical movement of the impeller member, which also imparts motion to the body of the washing fluid and clothes in a vertical direction,` the combined or modified action resulting in substantial turbulence and swirling of the washing fluid and ,clothes therein, for ei'i'ecting frequent ilexings and turning over of the clothes for performing an efficient cleansing operation thereupon. Due

to the contour of the faces 50 of the vanes of the impeller member, it will be apparent that on the downstroke of the impeller member, the motion of the washing fluid and clothes in a vertical plane substantiallyapproximates a'radial direction, while at the same time the vertical movement of the impeller member imparts motion to the body of thewashing uid in a vertical direction. It will now be manifest that by continuous reciprocatory, and oscillatory action of the impeller member, thebody of clotheswill be gradually and continuously advanced in one circulatory direction around the impeller member, in a direction which corresponds to the direction of movement imparted thereto by the action of the faces 59 of the impeller vanes 58.

' Although the action on the washing fluid and clothes,by virtue of the construction 'above described, is relatively vigorous, yet it is gentle on the clothes, in that it does not impose severe strains or abrading action ,on the fabric and results in promptly effecting a thorough cleansing operation upon the clothes.

It is to.be understood, that the term "clothes as used herein and in the claims, is to be accorded the general meaning in the art, namely, as including any washable fabric or sheet material in4 addition to wearing apparel.

Although I have herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, manifestly it is capable of modification and rearrangement of parts without departing from the' spirit and scope thereof. I do not, therefore, wish to ,be understood as limiting this invention tothe precise embodiment herein disclosed, except as it may be so limited-by the appended claims.

' v I claim:

. 1. In a washing machine, the combination with a tub adapted to contain washing fluid and clothes to be washed, of an impeller shaft having a portion extending upwardly through the bottom of the tub, means for simultaneously imparting vertically reciprocating and horizontally oscillating motion to said impeller shaft, and an impellermember mounted on the upper end ofsaid shaft, withinthe tub, and disposed in spaced relation to the bottom and wall thereof to permit free circulation of the washing iluid and clothes member comprising a body portion of substantial area extending; transversely ofthe axis of the tub,

and a set of circuxnferentially spaced apart ver- `a tub adapted to contain washing huid and clothes 'to be washed, of an impeller shaft having a portion extending upwardly through the bottom of thetub, means for simultaneously imparting vertically reciprocating and. horizontally oscillating motion to said impeller shaft, and an impeller member mounted on the upper end of said shaft, within the tub, and disposed in spaced re lation to the bottom and wall thereof to permit free circulation of the washing fluid and clothes around and beneath said impeller, said impeller member comprising a bottom portion of substantialiarea extending transversely of the axis of the tub, a head disposed in spaced relation to the bottom portion, the portion intermediate the bottom portion and the head being of less cross-sectional area than said head, and a set of circumferentially spaced apart vertically disposed vanes connecting said bottom portion, intermediate portion and head. j

3. In a washing machine, the combination with a tub adaptedto contain washing uid and clothes to be washed, of an impeller shaft having a portion extending upwardly through the bottom vof the tub, means for simultaneously imparting vertically reciprocating and horizontally oscillating motion to said impeller shaft, andan impeller member mounted on the upper end of.

said shaft, within the tub, anddisposed in spaced relation to the bottom and wall thereof to permit free circulation of the washing fluid and l clothes around and beneath -said impeller,v said impeller member comprising-a body portion of substantial area extending transversely of the axis of the tub. a head disposed in spaced relation to the body portion, and a seti of circumferentially spaced apart vertically disposed'vanes connecting said body portion and head, corresponding facesV of saidset of vanes being formed and positioned for imparting tirculati'iryl motion to the body of washing fluid and clothes, around said impeller member, during oscillation of the impeller member in one direction, vthe opposite faces of said l(il) vanes extending 'at an angle oblique toradial to impart approximately radial motion to the body of washing fluid and clothes, during reverse-oscillation of the impeller member.

4. 1n. a washing machine, the combination with a'tubadaptedto contain washing fluid and clotheslto be washed, of an impeller shaft having a. portion extending upwardly through the bottom of the tub, means forsimultaneously imparting vertically reciprocating and horizontally oscillating motion to said impeller shaft,:and an lm peller member mounted on the upper end of said shaft,'withinthetub,anddisposedinspacedre Vlationhtso'the bottom and wallthereof to permit frecircnlationsof the Wiggins fluid and clothes ,y 2,172,620 around and beneath said impeller, said impeller impeller member..

around and beneath said impeller, said impeller vanes sloping downwardly and outwardly to impart approximately radial motion to the washing' fluid and clothes, during the upstroke of the vertical reciprocation of the impeller member.

' member comprising a body portion of substantial 5. In a washing machine, the combination with a tub adapted to contain washingl fluid and clothes to be washed, of an impeller shaft having a portion extending upwardly through the bottom of the tub, meansfor simultaneously imparting vertically reciprocating and horizontally oscillating motion to said impeller shaft, and an impeller member mounted on the upper end -of said shaft, within the tub, and disposed in spaced relation to the bottom and wall thereof to permit free circulation of the washing fluid and clothes -around and beneath said impeller, said impeller member, comprising a body portion of substantial areaextending transversely ofthe axis of the tub, and a set of circumferentially spaced apart vertically disposed vanes extending vupwardly from said body portion, corresponding. faces of said set fiuidand clothes, around said impeller member,

., of vanes being formed and p/ositi'oned for impart- :L `ing circulatory motion to the body of .washing lduring oscillation of the impeller memberin one direction, the opposite faces of said vanes extending at an angle oblique to radial and sloping -downwardly and outwardly to impart approxi.

mately radial motion tto the washing fluid and v clothes, during/the combined reverse oscillation and-upstroke of the vertical reciprocation of the impeller member.

6. In a washing machine, the combination with a tub adapted to contain washing fluid and clothes to be washed, of an impeller shaft having,

a portion extending upwardly through the bottom of the tub,means for simultaneouslyimparting vertically reciprocating and horizontally cs- -cillating motion to said impeller shaft, and an.

impeller member mounted on the upper end of said shaft, within the tub, and disposed in spaced relation to the bottom and wall thereof to permit free circulation of the washing fluid and clothes around and beneath`said impeller, said impeller member comprising a body portion of substantial area extending transversely of the axis of the tub,

a headn in spaced relation to the body portion, and a set of circumferentially spaced apart vertically disposed vanes connecting said body portion and head, corresponding faces of said set of vanes being formed and positioned for imparting circulatory motion` tothe body of washing uid and'clothes, around said impeller member, during oscillation oftheimpeller member in one direction, theopposite faces of said vanes vextending at an angle-oblique to radial and sloping downwardly and outwardly to impart approxi-- mately radial motion tothe washing fluid 'and clothes, during the combined reverse oscillation and upstroke of. the vertical reciprocatlon of the 

